Raber Wolf Pack Book Two

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Other Books by Ryan Michele

©Ryan Michele 2015

Editing: Lea Burn at Burn Before Reading

Proofreading: Julie Deaton

Cover Designer: Melissa Gill at MG Book Covers (
http://salon.io/mgbookcovers
)

Formatting: Cassy Roop of
Pink Ink Designs

This book is intended for mature audiences only. Scenes are not suitable for younger readers.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Thank you to everyone who has read and fell in love with the Raber Wolves.

RUNNING. SURPRISE. FEAR. PANIC.

My feet keep taking me and I keep pushing, having long since thrown off my heels. Dirt and garbage imbedded in my bare flesh, slivers of glass slicing my skin, I don’t dare stop. I press forward, running hard, harder than I ever knew I could. If I can just get a little bit farther, I will be all right. I chant those words over and over, giving me the extra push I need to pick up speed.

Behind me, strong thuds hit the ground, crunching through the debris in the dirt filled alley with ease. They’re close. Way too close. Why are they chasing me? What in the hell have I done?

Paw scuffs sound against the pavement, and each one sends chills over my sweat slicked skin. There are four of them. Sixteen paws barreling toward me. Four sets of teeth and loud snarling, but I don’t dare turn around. That will be a precious second lost and one I can’t afford. One distraction will be my end. They are too fast, too powerful.

Earlier tonight, my gut told me to stay home, not to go out. Did I listen? Nope. Because I’m a damn moron. When the team asked me to go out for drinks after work, I initially said no and now I know why.

There are wolves in the streets of Lakeside.

We’ve lived harmoniously in the years since we found out about them. The shock of their existence has long since worn off. That is…until tonight. These aren’t wild wolves that one reads about in a wilderness magazine. No, these are humans who just so happen to change into wolves. The human forms began chasing me, then poof—wolves. I didn’t see them change, but the last time I turned around, I found angry wolves snarling back at me. My senses went into overdrive and my adrenaline spiked, fueling me to run faster, harder, and not look back again, to only focus on the sound behind me.

Why are they chasing me? Did they just all of a sudden decide that tonight was the night to find Kenly Conner and eat her for dinner? To my knowledge, I’ve never done anything or even associated with any wolves in any way.

Pain pierces through the soft arch of my foot as something digs deep. My ankle rolls, sending blazing pain up my calf, but I power through, forcing my body not to slow. No damn rock or whatever that was is going to stop me. No. Never. I was born a fighter and I sure as shit won’t give up now.

To prove I’m a bigger moron than I first realized, instead of staying on the main road, I veer off into the alley. Yes. Horror movie here I come. I’ve watched enough in my day to know that was a colossal mistake but it’s too late now. I hate when my brain shorts out for a moment and rational thought escapes me. It always gets me into trouble.

A light springs to life on the side of the building ahead and hope surges through my body. If I can just get to the door below the illumination, maybe someone will be there to help. As I continue to run, I stare at the door handle willing someone to open it and help me. Just as the promise of safety fills me, it quickly vanishes when one of the beasts nips at my ankle. The pierce of its teeth digs deep and my steps falter, giving the pack the exact opportunity they need. All thoughts of escape and survival vanish in a haze of dust.

Falling. Down. Down. Down.

My head smacks against something hard and pain spears through my temples as I cry out, unable to hold back from the force of it. Everything blurs and the world spins, but I won’t give up. I don’t give in. The pain is intense, but no, I’ll never give up. Flailing my arms and legs, I kick and punch the animals. My fingers graze their fur, even pulling on it briefly, but it only spurs on their fury. They move so fast that I can’t keep track of each of them, and my lame attempt of fighting them off seems utterly futile.

Agony consumes me as the wolves use their teeth, biting so many parts of my body that I have no idea what they are doing. Tears of sadness and fear wet my cheeks. My limbs grow weak and I’m unable to move them. The fight hasn’t left me, but my arms and legs are so damn heavy all a sudden. Something is causing me to stop fighting. What the hell is going on? Why can’t I move? Despair encases my heart as the animals continue to bite my flesh.

A blur races past and the wolves leave my body in a flash. The night air floats over my clammy skin, leaving behind a slight chill. This is it. My life is over. There were so many things I wanted to do and now I’ll never have the chance. The main one was to fall in love, but that won’t happen now. I close my eyes, allow the tears to fall, and blackness envelops my body.

Kenly

THE IRON STENCH OF blood burns my nostrils, and tears spring to my eyes. My body aches as every single inch throbs, especially my head. I swear it's been squashed by a semi and then backed over a few times. I try to open my eyes, but I can’t. Why can’t I? Voices. I hear voices, but I don’t recognize any of them.

“Why did you bring her here?”
a strong, male voice demands.

“She’s my mate,”
another states, still strong, but not quite so dominant. Mate?

“She is, but she’s human…”

“We have to see if she changes, and then we can go from there.”

Changes
. What in the hell are they talking about? I’m not changing into anything.

“She’s your responsibility. Yours and Thor’s. She does not roam around here alone. Ever
…” The voice grows fainter, as if he’s leaving.

My eyes flutter open, and it feels like sand is ingrained in them as I pry the two lids apart. I blink over and over, the grit scratching as I try to get my eyes to work. Bright light filters in, adding to the discomfort. Add in the blinding headache that has taken residence inside my brain, and it’s not a combo that I find appealing whatsoever.

“Hey, sweetie,” a candied voice purrs and I turn toward it, instantly at ease with whoever it belongs to. Why? I haven’t a clue. I just do, simple as that.

My throat is dry as sawdust as some type of cry leaves my mouth, though not making much sense. It’s more of a gurgling noise deep in my throat. My body aches, every single inch of my skin, even the bottoms of my feet.

Running.

Holy shit, the wolves. My heart picks up as I desperately search the room for the animals that attacked me. My pulse thumps loudly in my eardrums. My breaths become labored, but I try to suck in oxygen despite the scratchiness of my throat. The scent of rubbing alcohol penetrates my nostrils, but it’s the smell of the blood that I fear. What did they do to me? Where am I? Panic like no other courses through my brain, and I don’t have any control over it or my body. Scared isn’t even in my vocabulary at the moment. Petrified is more like it.

I slowly focus on the tall, beautiful brunette holding a bottle in one hand and a cloth in the other. Her hair is long and lush. She has the most striking blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and her face is perfectly symmetrical. As is her body, her awe-inspiring curves.

“I’m Lily.” She blinks, watching me intently before continuing, “And you’re safe. I’m just cleaning up your wounds. Since you’re awake, it may sting a bit now.”

Safe.

What? How can I be safe? The images of the wolves flash through my throbbing head and fear threads like a noose around my throat, making it difficult to breathe.

“Wolves,” I rasp out to the woman, hoping she understands what the hell I’m saying, but the word comes out foreign.

“They’re gone, sweetie. They’ll never hurt you or anyone else ever again.” Malice presses through the once calming voice and I stiffen. Not scared of her, but the fact that she said they were gone. Did someone kill them? Where did they go?

“Where?”

“Don’t worry one bit. The boys took care of it. I promise you are safe.” She shifts slightly on the bed, causing the mattress to dip down at my side. She holds a navy rag in her hand and the scent of alcohol assaults me. The rag goes out of view and as quickly as the coolness touches my thigh, a burn replaces it immediately. I flinch, gritting my teeth, but no sound escapes as I try to process what the hell is going on. The light blow of her breath on the wound eases the burn, releasing some of the tension from my muscles.